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Friday, January 18, 2013

Interview 11: Gary Goldstein

Greetings
humans, half-breeds, and everything in between. A while back, I had the
pleasure to interview my new friend, Gary
Goldstein. He is visiting the ECS as a guest and sharing loads of
interesting insights into his work. Be sure to look around and see what he has
to offer. Here are the results of our interview. A good time was truly had by
all, and here’s how it went down.

Hi there Gary! It’s so awesome to have you here
at the ECS Universe. Don’t worry about the darkness, your eyes will adjust.

So tell me, who is Gary Goldstein?

I am the author of "Jew in Jail," the true story
of the nearly six years I spent incarcerated for robbery, which was a direct
result of my past addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling. I am also a motivational & inspirational
speaker on recovery from addiction, and get enormous satisfaction out of
helping other addicts get and stay clean.

Wow, your story sounds
inspiring already. You have accomplished a lot despite your incarceration…And
you it’s a small world; I too was inducted into Who’s Who for both high school
and college.

So whacha got for me
today?

My book, "Jew in Jail" tells my non-fiction story
of what it was like for a minority - a Jewish prisoner - to do time behind bars
from 1998-2004, and attempt to get clean and sober, in order to turn my life
around.

It deals with all of the mistreatment and harassment I
received from not only my fellow inmates, but also from the correction officers
and other staff members of the New York
State prison system.

I wrote "Jew in
Jail" to help others in similar situations of being either addicts, or someone
living with low self-esteem and self-confidence realize that it is never too
late to change and go on to live a full, productive, law- abiding life.

I have a feeling that
your story is filled with many harsh truths, but that a clear message of hope
is projected.

So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of “Jew In Jail”?

"Jew in Jail" follows my time as a minority in
prison and what I had to endure on a daily basis.

It is my first person account on how I had to fend for
myself in this "world within the real world," and how I decided from
the moment the doors to the prison closed on me for nearly six years, that I
was going to use this time in my life as a stepping-stone to turn my life
around, and go from a "Jew in Jail," to a Jew who "would not
fail!"

There are many
categories and levels of minorities and for anyone who isn’t one it’s hard to
understand that struggle, but add on a heap of other obstacles and it just
seems impossible to rise above. Whatever a person’s ethnicity, race,
nationality, or faith is, I’m glad people like you are brave enough to share
their stories anda beacon of hope to
others.

Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Actually, I
wrote "Jew in Jail" as I was doing my time, as a way of chronicling
everything I was going through while I was locked up on a daily basis.

It was
extremely therapeutic to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper as they
occurred, provided some privacy for myself in what otherwise was a very wide
open, noisy atmosphere (I was usually incarcerated in a medium security,
dormitory setting), and allowed me to analyze my situation and measure my
growth as it took place.

The one
problem that I eventually experienced was when, one day, a correctional officer
searched my cube area, confiscated all of the pages of my manuscript, and also
wrote a ticket against me for possessing "contraband!"However, the guilty disposition that was
ultimately handed down in a disciplinary hearing was later overturned, and I
ended up receiving my manuscript back, based on a violation of my First Amendment rights.

Ever since
my release in 2004, I have been promoting "Jew in Jail," at literary
conventions, book festivals, or anywhere I speak as a motivational &
inspirational speaker on recovery from addiction, including drug treatment
programs, hospital detoxes, jails, or schools.

I have had
an idea for another book in my head for a while now, and also have taken many
notes, but for now, at least, I am quite content to continue to promote
"Jew in Jail," and go around the country delivering motivational
& inspirational speeches to help others, since that gives me tremendous
satisfaction knowing that what happened to me wasn't in vain.

I also find writing to
be very therapeutic. When I wrote my first book I had no idea that’s what I was
doing. I was just writing to keep myself calm and my head straight.

What author(s) has
most influenced your writing? Why or how?

I would definitely have to say Dr. Phillip C. McGraw, better
known as Dr. Phil, because he is all about
helping others too!

I can see that. As a
motivational writer and speaker, you’d have to read from others with success in
that field and he has quite a following

Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Hmm, my answer to that question would be any of our
brave American soldiers who return home with missing limbs after risking their
lives to do battle overseas, and then possess the will to go on and sometimes
have to start over learning to walk with prosthetics, or even relearn simple
things, like speaking, counting, or everyday bodily functions.They are the world's TRUE heroes, and
a motivation and inspiration to me personally.

Good answer. I won’t ruin
it with any further comment on the matter.

Who is so you and
why?

Well, when I
was growing up in school, the girls used to call me David
Cassidy, because I looked like him, especially with the bangs.But if you look at my photo nowadays, you can
see that Mother Nature has put an end to that comparison forever!

Cassidy not as young
as he used to be; with a shaved head the comparison might still stand :).

What’s your ideal
reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?

Amzon

I read or
write in my own bedroom, at my computer, and sometimes I am listening to either
the news, or some music on the radio.

I prefer to
read paperbacks vs. ebooks, for the simple reason that I am old fashioned, and
like to actually hold the book in my hand.

Once I find
a book that I really like, I can sit in front of my computer in my bedroom
reading it for hours - or until I am finished!

I like to read with
music on sometimes, if it’s soft music. I can never just pick up a book and
read it straight through no matter how much I like it. The reading portion of
my mind is very immature and always thinks it’s missing out on something if I
don’t stop and dabble in other reads at the same time.

What was your
favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

I guess I would have to say how the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series,
because it was so improbable.

I can remember watching baseball as a young child that year
with my father, and just being amazed at how the Mets performed in the face of
adversity.As I got older, I was able to
appreciate it even more.

By the way, you can tell by now that I always root for the
underdog!

That’s cool. Even back
then, you had a mind for inspiration. I tend to root for the underdog a lot
too...Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

No doubt!

Alright then, here we
go.

If you could only watch
one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

IMDB

Without a doubt, that movie would be "The Ten
Commandments," because it is an epic film depicting the biblical story
of the Exodus, and features some of the biggest movie stars of all-time.

As a fan of classic
movies, I can’t argue with this choice. This is such a classic story and a
really good movie. While I hardly find an actor I’d want to know personally, I
do have a few faves in terms of their performances and Heston was good at what
he did.

What makes you geek
out?

I am a very big fan of Law & Order:
SVU.I really don't watch television
that much anymore, but aside from the news, and sports, Law & Order: SVU is
one show I have continued to enjoy for years.

I don’t watch much TV
either, but used to enjoy Law & Order from time to time. This is a very compelling and hard to resist
franchise. The stories they tell are so real and, many times, pulled straight
from the headlines.

So what’s testing your patience right now?

Not to be redundant, but I am really looking forward to
continuing to deliver motivational & inspirational speeches on recovery
from addiction.

The last speech I delivered, which was to inmates graduating
from a drug program at the Henrico County Jail in Richmond, Virginia, was
likely my best yet, and it just gives me so much satisfaction to be able to use
all of my past experiences and mistakes made to try and help others, since it
also continues to help myself too.Here
is the link to that speech, as I was fortunate to be allowed to bring a video
camcorder in with me and have it taped and posted to YouTube. http://youtu.be/dE4DFCbXRF4

On a lighter
note, I do enjoy going down to Florida every winter for a little fun and sun in
order to get a head start on my tan!

Even a very focused
individual like you needs some R&R at some point. I love that you are so
dedicated to your calling, but that you’re so serious about personal health. I
hope you have fun in Florida this winter.

When the soundtrack
of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what
songs bring out your rage?

A song I have really been listening to a lot lately is
"Man In The Mirror,"
<=watch by Michael Jackson, because
it deals with looking at oneself and making changes (do you readers all see a
theme here?!).

On the other hand, I despise songs that are vulgar and put
people down, especially rap music.

These are two great
songs…No offense, but it’s not very original to say that you don’t like rap.
Rap is a musical category. Just playing devil’s advocate here-- if so much of
Rap wasn’t vulgar would it still be so bad? Is rock, metal, folk, and
alternative music never vulgar?...Just something to think about.

What’s the most fun
experience you’ve ever had?

I absolutely love going horseback riding, and have done it
many times, although not recently.

However, now that I am writing about it to answer your
question, I plan to "get back in the saddle" soon!

I totally agree with
you here. I love horseback riding, but haven’t done it nearly enough. I you get
a chance to do it again very soon.

Remind me again how I was lucky enough to meet you?

I read a post of yours on LinkedIn
recently, which is just one of the many social media sites I subscribe to in
order to promote my book, "Jew in Jail," and career as a motivational
& inspirational speaker.

Well glad you did, and
I’m glad I posted that message. I’ve gotten to meet so many wonderful authors
from all walks of life. It’s been very reassuring in my own efforts as an
author and helps keep me fueled to continue my Eternal Curse Series.

Not that you can see
into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

The world is constantly changing, and people are finding
less time for pleasure, because they are forced to work more hours in order to
make ends meet for themselves and their families.

Technology and innovation, although mostly beneficial to
society, and the world in general, also have a negative effect, in that it is
causing many people to become lazy and spend way too much time on their
gadgets, as opposed to exercising and eating healthy.

So my hope is that in five years, people will find the
correct balance in their lives in order to feel fulfilled.

As for me, I suspect that in five years, I will be
continuing to speak and make a positive impact in other people's lives, by
passing along all of my past and current experiences on what it takes to
succeed and live a happy, fruitful life.

In addition, in five years, I am confident that I will be
able to say that I am clean and sober for over 10 years, and, therefore, have
people take anything I speak about to heart, because I am someone who always
"keeps it real!"

Ok humans,
half-breeds, and everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow
this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Gary Goldstein, check out these great links: